The Relationship Code

Chapter 36: Ex and present

Piper's Point of View

"Do you think we should go?"

Ibinaba ni Russel ang kutsara't tinidor na hawak niya at humarap sa akin. We're currently eating at a restaurant. And I opened the topic about Nate's raffle and the beach.

He smiled at me and tousled my hair, "We saw this coming, Piper. Hindi ba nga handa na ang mga gamit mo noong nakaraan pa para sa beach? Hindi pa nga tapos ang sem niyo nakabili ka ng pang summer getaway mo."

I playfully shoved him dahil sa sinabi niya and that made him laugh.

"We're okay. We could go. Except na lang kung magkakasakit ang isa sa atin na huwag naman sanang mangyari."

Nginitian ko siya at tumango.

I'm just worrying about him. Alam niyang kasama ang ex ko and that would be very awkward. Kahit na madalas kaming nagkikita because we belong in a same group, never pa kaming nag-usap na kami lang. Never pa namin napag-usapan ang mga nangyari noon at kung bakit siya nawala. Maski sila ni Russel never pa nagkaroon ng chance na mag-usap. Not that may dapat silang pag-usapan. All we have are hi's, hello's and goodbye's. Nothing more and nothing less.

"Kung nagwoworry ka kasi kasama siya – " Hindi ko na siya pinatapos magsalita.

"No. I'm worrying about you. Are you okay with him coming with us? Kasi if you're not, I could try to convince Nate na – "

"Huwag siyang isama? Hindi ata maganda 'yon." He pinched my cheeks, "Past na siya. Wala akong pakialam sa kaniya. Kaya ayos lang na magsamasama tayo sa outing na 'yon. Depende na lang kung... kung may pakialam ka pa sa kanya."

My heart skipped a beat. Nabigla lang siguro ako sa sinabi niya. What made him think na may pakialam pa ako. He's my boyfriend. Not Hunter. And like he said, anything Hunter-related is already in the past. He's my present.

I held his face with my both hands and playfully slapped him, "Wala. Wala na." He smiled at me and pinched my cheeks.

***

"Are you sure you're going to be fine?" Nag-aalalang tanong ni Hailey kaya tumango ako, "Of course."

"Hindi ba weird? Nasa iisang place kayo ng ex boyfriend at current boyfriend mo ng ilang araw. Buti sana kung ilang oras lang 'di ba? Eh hindi naman."

"Ano bang masama do'n?" tanong ni Nate at pabirong piningot ang tenga ni Hailey. "Wala namang masama kung magsamasama sila. Hindi naman sila mag-iiwasan habangbuhay. At saka nakamove on na naman lahat 'di ba? 'Di ba?"

I swallowed, "Yes. Yes. Kaya okay lang."

Nag-ingay na naman si Hailey at Nate at kung anu-ano na naman ang sinasabi nila. I feel like this isn't my room kapag nandito sila. Parang nagiging palengke ang kwarto ko sa sobrang ingay. Partida na, dalawa lang silang nandito. But I love it more when they're here.

"Kung okay lang, bakit hindi kayo nagpapansinan ni Hunter?"

I stopped arranging my desk when I heard Hailey's question. Both of them stop bickering and looked at me.